SYNTHETIC LIGNIN DEGRADATION AND PEROXIDASE FORMATION BY PHANEROCHAETE MAGNOLIAE

Phanerochaete magnoliae mineralized synthetic lignin in low-nitrogen m edia provided that the Mn(II) concentration was kept low (about 0.5 p. p.m.). The amount of [C-14]dehydrogenative polymerizate (synthetic lig nin) ([C-14]DHP) oxidized to (CO2)-C-14 was about 10-15% of the total added. Two simple cultivation parameters, the concentration of Mn(II) and temperature, were used as tools to obtain widely different titres of extracellular peroxidases, which were examined in relation to [C-14 ]DHP mineralization. Both lignin peroxidase and Mn peroxidase accumula ted in the extracellular broth of P. magnoliae unusually early but [C- 14]DHP mineralization was only observed about 3 days alter the onset o f peroxidase production. Aspects of [C-14]DHP mineralization and perox idase formation by P. magnoliae were compared with those reported for P. chrysosporium.